Sorry Tom (and apologies to anyone else on the list who wondered my last
posting),
I just thought I'd give my Chinese a shot after all this time. After
all, there are many of us with some foreign language skills. Finding the
time to keep them honed is difficult. But perhaps Wallerstein's message
regarding this matter should be given the most attention by the many of
us who, like myself, have studied a foreign language but have lost some of
the skill they once had because of the pressures from more immediate
concerns. Let me suggest that the situation regarding knowledge of
foreign languages among sociologists is perhaps not as bad as it
appears, and that perhaps it would appear better if more of us tried a
little harder to keep up our learning and to try to find more
opportunities to use what we know. Of course, I should be first in line
to follow my own advice, shouldn't I?
Your truly,
Bill Haller
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Bill Haller ^ University Center for
Department of Sociology ^ Social and Urban Research
University of Pittsburgh ^ 121 University Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 ^ Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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